David Benowitz Founding partner, Price Benowitz LLP

Seth Price Founding Partner, Price Benowitz LLP

John Yannone Injury Attorney, Price Benowitz LLP

Karin Riley Porter Former Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney

Thomas Soldan Injury Attorney, Price Benowitz LLP

DC Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) each year in the United States. While many of these injuries are concussions or other types of mild TBI, around 425,000 people every year suffer major brain injuries that have a significant impact on their lives. When such brain injuries occur in accidents caused by another person’s negligence, the injury victim deserves to be compensated for their medical bills and other harms and losses suffered. An experienced DC traumatic brain injury lawyer will fight for that compensation, and will work to ensure that the responsible parties do not continue to put others at risk.

The personal injury attorneys at Price Benowitz LLP are dedicated to this goal and can help you understand and navigate the complex world of personal injury litigation. Our attorneys have the experience and dedication that you will need in pursuing a civil litigation claim. While no reputable attorney or firm can guarantee results, it is a fact that retaining quality counsel improves your odds for achieving optimal results, whether that is via settlement or court-awarded damages.

Common Causes of Brain Injuries

According to the CDC, the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. are as follows:

Falls – 35.2 percent

Motor vehicle accidents – 17.3 percent

Being struck by an object – 16.5 percent

Assaults – 10 percent

Other/Unknown causes – 21 percent

Many of the above types of accidents are caused because someone acted in a reckless or negligent manner. For example, many slip and fall accidents occur because a property owner did not keep their premises free of dangerous conditions, such as debris in walkways, wet or slippery floors, or uneven carpet or floor surfaces. Additionally, motor vehicle accidents often happen because another driver was distracted, driving while impaired, or committed another type of traffic violation. Negligent individuals or parties should be held liable for their actions and should reimburse injured accident victims. They should also address the negligence that led to the injury in the first place. Unfortunately, many individuals and businesses are not moved to address those risks unless civil action is taken.

Sport-related injuries are another common cause of TBI, as many sports come with the risk of being struck by equipment, such as a ball, puck, stick, etc., or another player, such as an offensive lineman in football or a center in basketball. While athletes are typically aware of the risk of injury with any sport, some injuries occur due to the negligence of a coach, assistant coach, or a sports league. For example, some coaches may push players beyond their physical limits, a team may not provide the proper protective equipment, or team doctors and other staff may clear a player to return to the game after a blow to the head or similar injury. In addition, certain head injuries may be caused by defectively designed equipment, potentially resulting in product liability claims against sports equipment manufacturers.

Both the National Football League (NFL) and the National Hockey League (NHL) have been the subject of recent lawsuits filed by former players. These lawsuits have claimed that the leagues actively concealed the dangers of brain injuries and encouraged players to keep performing on the field or ice after a possible traumatic brain injury was suffered.

Signs and Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Following a blow to the head, you should first seek medical attention. You should also see a doctor if you notice the development of any of the following traumatic brain injury signs and symptoms:

Loss of consciousness

Persisting or worsening headaches

Being confused, dazed, or disoriented

Dizziness or balance problems

Memory problems

Trouble concentrating

Unusual sensitivity to sound or light

Feelings of anxiety or depression

Unexplained mood swings

Difficulty comprehending conversation

Difficulty showing appropriate emotion

Nausea or vomiting

Slurring of the speech

Problems with vision, hearing, or taste

Numbness or weakness in extremities

Unusual drowsiness or fatigue

Changing or unusual sleeping patterns

Unexplained agitation

Seizures or convulsions

Pupil dilation

Loss of coordination

Fluid draining from the ears or nose

If you or a loved one notices any of the above symptoms, you should immediately seek emergency medical care. Doctors may need to take immediate steps to try to relieve pressure on the brain, reduce inflammation, and stabilize the patient to avoid any further damage. Diuretics or anti-seizure medications may be necessary to reduce any fluid on the brain or prevent convulsions or seizures that may cause additional injury. In some cases, doctors may induce a temporary coma to reduce brain activity and relieve pressure, or may even perform emergency surgery. No matter how serious your injury may be, it is highly important that you get a proper medical diagnosis and treatment to limit the potential long-term effects on your life.

Even if a traumatic brain injury patient receives the appropriate medical care, the above signs and symptoms may be long-lasting. TBI patients often struggle with physical, mental, cognitive, and emotional impairments for weeks, months, or even permanently. To make matters even more difficult, there are usually no visibly apparent signs that someone has suffered a TBI, which makes it difficult for others to understand their struggles. For example, others may get frustrated if a TBI patient has trouble keeping up with a conversation, showing proper emotion for a particular situation, or completing basic tasks. The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can affect a victim’s ability to return to work, school, and other everyday activities.

Rehabilitation for TBI Patients

Because of the wide array of possible symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, rehabilitation may be extensive and require many different kinds of professional assistance. For example, rehabilitation may include treatment from the following healthcare professionals:

Recreational therapist—assists a patient in regaining the abilities to perform leisure activities and to enjoy life.

As you can see, there are many different people who may possibly be involved in the TBI rehabilitation process. This treatment can be very expensive, time-consuming, and stressful for a traumatic brain injury patient and their loved ones. In some cases, victims may never regain their full ability or return to their normal lives, and instead must deal with a disability for the rest of their lives.

Contact a DC Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer for Assistance Today

If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, you are likely facing significant medical bills, lost income from time off work, pain and suffering, and possibly permanent disability. If your injury was caused in an accident that was the fault of another person, you deserve to fully recover financially for all of your losses and struggles. You also may be facing months or years of future treatment and future lost wages, or perhaps the end of your chosen career. You deserve to recover for these future losses as well. An experienced DC TBI attorney will be able to calculate your total past and future losses to make sure you receive proper compensation.

Following a blow to the head, it is not only important that you seek the proper medical care to ensure your own well-being but also to document your brain injury diagnosis and treatment. You should further continue to take notes throughout your recovery process to document the harms and losses you have suffered. After you have visited a doctor, your next step should be to contact a DC traumatic brain injury lawyer at Price Benowitz, LLP to schedule a free consultation. We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay us anything unless you receive a favorable result in your case. Our experienced TBI attorneys will work diligently on your behalf to secure the settlement or award that you deserve, so do not hesitate to call (202) 600-9400 for help.